Phiphat held a meeting with 14 southern provincial governors, stressing preparedness for heavy rainfall during 6-13 October 2026. He appointed Worasit as the central coordinator for support in all areas, advancing emergency response plans and evacuation site preparations.
At 16:00 on 6 October 2026, Worasit Liangprasert, Deputy Minister of the Interior, attended the second meeting of 2026 of the Committee on Flood and Drought Prevention and Mitigation in the Southern Region. The meeting was chaired by Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, in his capacity as chair of the committee. Also present were Sanphet Boonyamanee, Deputy Minister of Transport; Ploytale Laksamee Saengchan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office; Nirat Pongsitthaworn, Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM); and DDPM executives. The meeting took place at the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Center meeting room, DDPM headquarters. The Fourth Army Region commander, provincial governors, provincial police commanders, deputy internal security operations directors, and representatives from relevant agencies in 14 southern provinces joined via video conference.
Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, said the government and Prime Minister are deeply concerned about flood situations nationwide, monitoring progress daily. He ordered agencies to swiftly mobilize all resources to assist and rehabilitate affected people thoroughly. Since the South is forecast to face heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong winds between 6-13 October 2026, it is necessary to monitor closely and hold integrated meetings to prepare at the highest readiness level.
“Every province in the South must develop clear emergency response plans with defined task assignments to enable efficient joint operations and minimize impact on residents. Should any province or agency encounter problems, they can present these at meetings to find solutions immediately. Additionally, I request the Fourth Army Region to support personnel and resources prepared to assist operations in all 14 southern provinces, ensuring maximum efficiency in water management,” Phiphat said.
Phiphat added that all 14 southern provincial governors should prepare integrated disaster responses for floods, fires, and droughts. Emphasis is on daily rainfall data reporting, budget management, clearly designated emergency vehicle parking locations to avoid obstructing relief efforts, preparation of shelters and essential supplies, and backup sanitation facilities to prevent public health and environmental issues. He instructed provinces to implement these guidelines and coordinate promptly to request machinery support from the Ministry of Transport or the military. Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Liangprasert and DDPM Director-General Nirat Pongsitthaworn serve as central coordinators for timely data collection and assistance coordination.
Worasit Liangprasert, Deputy Interior Minister, stated that if disaster criteria are met under legal regulations, provincial governors and local administrative organizations should promptly declare disaster zones. Because the Ministry of Interior is closest to the people, it must act quickly to assist when problems arise. Furthermore, food preparedness requires assessing raw material sources for meal preparation and arranging machinery not owned by government agencies, using contingency budgets to address the situation effectively and alleviate public hardship promptly.
“Crucially, information on evacuation points, parking locations, and various areas prepared by government agencies must be communicated widely and effectively to residents in each area. All preparations will be beneficial only if every agency finds ways to disseminate information to the public, ensuring maximum readiness for emergencies,” Worasit said. /** This part contains only a phrase 'Worasit added' with no further text to translate. **/ Worasit added.
Nirat Pongsitthaworn, Director-General of DDPM, reported that since the meeting of the DDPM command center on 30 September 2026, the Prime Minister has ordered urgent integration of efforts across six key areas: 1) water management aligned with river and canal capacities; 2) early warnings and public care with surveillance of risk areas, support for evacuees, pumping and area restoration, and full support to provincial governors; 3) integrated forces with clear command systems, defined areas, tasks, and sufficient rotating personnel, with DDPM coordinating inter-agency communication; 4) rapid relief and drainage of affected areas, damage surveys, infrastructure restoration, and preparation of personnel, machinery, and transport; 5) compensation and rehabilitation in areas returned to normal, including damage surveys, financial aid disbursement, cleanup, and restoration; 6) systematic water management with reservoir and river monitoring near capacity, mobilizing adequate machinery from public and private sectors, and targeting precise areas.
A representative from the Meteorological Department reported that the South currently has dense cloud cover, especially in the lower Andaman coast. Weather forecasts for 6-8 October 2026 indicate heavy rain beginning in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, and the lower South, with rainfall amounts of 50-100 millimeters in many areas. On 9 October, rain will concentrate in the lower South. Between 10-12 October, rainfall is expected to increase due to a monsoon trough crossing the South, especially central South and the Andaman coast. On 13 October, rain will shift to the upper South, and on 14 October, rain will persist in the lower South. Initially, heavy rain in localized areas may cause flash floods and forest runoff, particularly in foothill regions. Later, accumulated rain may cause flash floods and runoff even with moderate rain.
At the end of the meeting, provincial governors from Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Songkhla, Satun, and Narathiwat presented their preparations for flood prevention and mitigation in southern Thailand.